Embossing mechanism



Feb. 17. 1925.

1,527,091 A. T. sNow smaossms MECHANISM FIG].

' INVENTOR:

Feb. 17. 1925.

, 1,527,091 A. T. SNOW EMBOSSING MECHANISM Filed June 16, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l NVENTOR: Armsa 75:20)? 67m Feb. 17. 1925.

- A. T. SNOW EMBQSSING MECHANIFSM S Sheets-Sheet 3 HGE A. T. SNOW 'EMBOSSING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 16, 1921 wllrl I! M I Feb. 17. 1925.

' 1,527,091 AA. T- SNOW zmaossme MECHANISM Filed June 16, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR:

Adar/75a 717,10)! 511 Patented F eb. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES ALFRED TAYLOR snow, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

n vmossme mncnamsm.

Application filed June 16, 1921. Serial No. 477,965.

1 0 aZZ Q0/1077} it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED TAYLOR SNOW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Embossing Mechanism, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The embodiment of my invention hereinafter described was designed for embossing names and addresses of manufacturers of ice cream and similar products upon cans used as shipping containers for the same; so as to insure identification of such cans and return of the same to the owner thereof. Ordinarily, such cans are made from flat sheets of metal which are embossed, as above conten plated, while in their flat shape, by

inserting them between the platen and plunger of a reciprocatory power press. However, there is an inevitable loss of more or less of such blank sheets by accidental development or production of defects therein during the several operations to which such sheets. must be subsequently subjected to produce a can therefrom. Therefore, it is necessary to either initially emboss a number of sheets considerably larger than the number of cans required,- so as to insure that a suflicient number of embossed sheets may be had without delaying the operation of fmuning cans therefrom, or to delay the can forming operations to emboss such additional sheets as are found to be neces sary. In either event, there is a considerable loss of material or time. That is to say; there is los'sof material if more sheets are embossed with a given name and address than are actually found to be necessary to produce the number of cans required with that name and address; or there is a loss not only of time in completing the order for cans, but also in time for resetting the press if the initial number of sheets embossed is not suflicient to allow for the number of sheets lost in manufacture; it being, of course, impossible to predetermine how many sheets will be wasted for each job.

Therefore, the primary object of my invention wasto provide embossing mechanism which could be used upon the completed cans so as to avoid losses in either Way above contemplated. Moreover, a manufacturer provided with means to emboss completedcans has the further advantage of being able to make up standard sizes of cans in advance of receipt of orders for the same; so that the only delay in filling orders is that necessary to emboss the cans with the required lettering or other symbols.

My invention relates to embossing mech anism including opposed rollers respectively carrying the male and female embossing ele ments. As far as I ain aware; all prior embossing mechanism of that class is so constructed and arranged that it is necessary to adjust the axes of rotation of the opposed rollers toward and away from each other, at each embossing operation That is to say; in order to insertthe article to be embossed between the rollers in such mechanism, it is necessary to bodily move one roller away from the other, and then to bring it back again to its initial position, after the article is inserted between the rollers, before beginning the embossing oporation. The necessity for such preliminary movements of the mechanism, of course, adds to the time required for each embossing operation. On the contrary, in accord ance with my present invention, the axes of the opposed rollers may be constantly maintained a predetermined distance apart; each article be inserted between them in succession without preliminary movement of the rollers, and each embossing operation started the instant the article is thus inserted; thus minimizing the length of time required for embossing and correspondingly increasing the capacity of such mechanism per unit of time.

As hereinafter described; my invention includes the combination with opposed rollers so shaped that in one position of their relative rotation, there is a sufficient gap between them to .insert the article to be ,em bossed; of means for rotating said rollers in definite relation to each other arranged to automatically stop them in such receiving position. In the form chosen for illustration; each of the rollers has a portion of reduced radius in its otherwise continuous cylindrical surface and the rollers are stopped with their regions of short radius opposite to each other so that the articles to be embossed may then be freely inserted and withdrawn.

It is to be particularly noted that although I find it convenient to make the embossing rollers thus substantially cylindrical, to operate upon cylindrical cans: it is SIS not necessary to make the diameters of the rollers in any definite relation to the diameters of the cans to be operated on, except that one of the rollers shall be small enough to be inserted in the smallest size can to be embossed thereby; it being possible to emboss .cans of indefinitely larger diameter with the same embossing rollers. That is to say; a single pair of embossing rollers, such as hereinafter described, may be used to emboss cans of any size, providing that the cans are large enough to slip over one of the rollers.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In the drawings: Fig. I is a front elevation of a rotary embossing press en'rbodying my invention.

Fig. II is a rear elevation of said press.

Fig. III is an elevation of the right hand side of said press, as shown in Fig. I.

Fig. IV is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the clutch mechanism shown at the right hand side of Fig. III.

Fig. V is a plan view of the axially movable member of said clutch mechanism, showing the cam by which it is automatically disengaged from the driving mecha nism shown in said figures.

Fig. VI is a fragmentary vertical longi tudinal sectional view of the opposed em bossing rollers and their supporting shafts shown in Figs. I and III, but on a larger scale.

Fig. VII is a vertical transverse sectional view of said rollers, taken on the line VII, VII, in Fig. VI.

Fig. VIII is a front elevation of a pair of letter dies such as are opposed in the rollers shown in Figs. VI and VII, but double the. actual size.

Fig. IX is a side elevation of said pair of dies shown. in Fig. VIII.

In said figures: the opposed embossing rollers 1 and 2 are precisely alike in shape, each having two circumferential channels 3; each. of said channels having undercut grooves 5 and 6 upon its respectively opposite sides; said groove 5 being radially wider than said groove 6, to prevent accidental re-.

versal of the dies 8 and 9 in said channels. That is to say: said dies 8 and 9 which are respectively female and male are sin'iilarly sectoral as shown in Fig. VII, each having a wide projection 10 at one axial end and a narrow projection 11 at its axially opposite end; said wide projections 10 being at the base end of the letter forms upon the faces of said dies; the letter form upon the face of the die 8 being intaglio, as indicated. at 12 in Figs. VIII and IX, and that upon the die 9 being eameo,as indicated at 14 in said figures.

As best shown in F i VII. said rollers 1 and 2 have respective, segmental, radially reduced regions 15, which when apposed form a gap to receive and release the article to be embossed. Each of said rollers 1 and 2 has two sectoral pockets 16 extending from its outer face into its respective circumferential channels 3, at said segmental regions, axially wide enough to admit said dies 8 and 9 into position to he slid circumferentially into said channels. Said rollers thus form what may be termed rotary chases for said oppositely counterpart type dies 8 and 9, and the quads 18 whereby said dies 8 and 9 may be held in proper spaced relation in said channels.

Of course, rotation of said rollers to effect the embossing operation tends to displace saiddies -S and9 circim'iferentially. Therefore, I provide die retaining blocks 19 which are respectively fitted in said pockets 16 and secured in assembled position by screws 20 which extend, transversely to the axes of said rollers, through smooth holes 21 in said blocks into respective screw threaded holes 22 in said rollers. Moreover, I prefer to provide each of said rollers with respective dowel pins 24 rigidly set therein in position to accurately fit the dowel sockets 25 in said blocks. As indicated in Fig. VII: said dowel pins also extend into the driving shaft 31 and driven shaft 352 which respectively carry said rollers 1 and 2, which are thus precisely positioned thereon. However, said rollers Land 2 each have radially opposite key seats 2? for keys 2, whereby they are respectively rigidly connected with said shafts 31 and 32.

Said shafts 31 and 32 are constantly maintained with their axes a predetermined dis tance apart, by the frame 33.

I have found in practice that it is easier to clean cameo surfaces than intaglio surfaces of an embossed can and, therefore, prefer to arrange the rollers aforesaid to einhoss the cans by pressing the same invardly with respect to the can axis. There.

fore, I provide the shaft 31 (which carries the intaglio type dies 8) with the guide disk 34; to support the can 35 which is slipped over it and between said embossing rollers 1 and 2 when said rollers are stopped with their portions 15 of reduced radius in opposition to each other, as shown in Figs. I and VII. Of course, said shaft 31 may carry the cameo type dies 9, if it is desired to emboss the cans by pressing their walls outwardly with respect to the can axis.

Said shafts 31 and 32 are mounted to ro tate in the base frame 33, being ournaled in both of the housings 36 and 37 on said frame. Between said housings 36 and 37, said shaft 31 is provided with the gears 38 and 39, which are alike except that they are so keyed upon said shaft as to be rigidly connected therewith, with their teeth in stepped relation, as shown in Fig. III, whereby the embossing elements of the respective rollers 1 and 2 are maintained in position to register with each other. Said shaft 32 is similarly provided with gears 40 and 41 which respectively mesh with said gears 38 and 39. Said shaft 32 is merely rotated idly, counter to said shaft 31; and journaled only in said housings 36 and 37, but said frame 33 has the cap frame plate 43 bridging said housings and supporting the bearing bracket 44 which has at its outer pendent end the bearing 45 for the outer end of said shaft 31. Said shaft 31 is arranged. to be positively driven by means of the gear 46 which is mounted so that it may turn loosely on said shaft 31, but has its hub 47 rigidly connected by the screws 48 with the crown clutch ring 49 which has three sectoral crown clutch projections 50 for engagement in the recesses 51 between the similar three sectoral crown clutch projections 52 upon the clutch collar 53. Said clutch collar is rotatably engaged with said shaft 31 by the keys 55, but is axially ino *able on said shaft and is provided with a circumferential series of four springs 56, which abut against the abutment ring 58, which encircles said shaft 31 and rests against said bearing 45, so that said springs constantly tend tothrust said collar 53 to the left in Figs. III and IV, to positively enga e said collar 53 with said gear 46; so that, during such engagement, said shaft 31 is positively rotated by said gear 46, in the direction of the arrow marked on said shaft in Fig. IV.

Said shaft 31 is held against axial dis placement by said gears 38 and 39 which respectively bear against said housings 36 and 37. Said gear 46 is prevented from axial displacementby the collar 60. shown in F ig. IV whichis rigidly secured to said shaft 31 by the pin 61; said collar being held between said hub 47 and said clutch ring 49.

Of course, said press may be stopped in any desired position, by any suitable means. However, I prefer to provide means to stop it automatically with the recessed portions 15 of said embossing rollers 1 and 2 in opposition to each other, as shown in Figs. I and VII. Such means may conveniently include the plunger 63 which is mounted to reciprocate vertically in said bearing bracket 44 and carries upon its shoulder nut 65 the weight 66 which constantly tends to lower said plunger to they position shown in Fig. IV. Said plunger has, at its lower end, the shoe 6-7 which is conveniently screw threaded thereon and" held by the jam nut 68 and,

when said clutch Conn 53 is in the disengaged position shown in Fig. IV, said shoe 6-? extends into the circumferential groove 70 of said collar 53 and prevents its. accidental displacement; i

01"? course, while said clutch collar 53 is thus held in disengaged position, as shown in Fig. IV; said driving gear 46 may continue to rotate, without turning said shaft 31.

However, as shown in Fig. IV, said plunger 63 is pivotally connected by the bolt 72 with the crank arm 73 on the rock shaft 74 which is journaled on said bearing bracket 44. as shown in Figs. III and IV. Said rock shaft also has the crank arm 76, shown in Figs. I and II, connected by the link 77, with the crank arm 78 on the rock shaft 80 which is ournaled in said cap plate 43 and provided with the hand lever 81 so that, by shifting said hand lever 81 in the direction of he arrows marked thereon in Figs. I and II. said plunger 63 may be raised to release said clutch collar 53 and permit the latter to be instantly thrust axially, by its springs 56 shown in Fig. IV, into engagement with said clutch ring 49 so that said shaft 31 is then turned by said gear wheel 46. and the conntershaft 32 simultaneosuly turned by the means above described.

Of course, when said hand lever 81 is released by the operator. said weight 66 tends to thrust said plunger 63 downward, but said clutch collar is then held by its springs 56 in engagement with the clutch ring 49. and said circum'lerential groove 70 in-said clutch collar 53 is then out of registry wit-h said shoes 67. However, I provide said clutch collar 53 with the radi ally projecting cam 82, best shown in Fig. V. which encounters the side of said shoe 6?. as said collar is turned in the-direction of the arrow shown in Fig. V: so that, as said clutch collar completes a single revolution. with said shaft 31, said collar is pressed to the right, by the comperation of said shoe 6? and cam 82 and against the pressure of said springs 56, until the parts are again left in the disengaged position shown in Fig. IV, with the recessed portions 15 of said rollers in opposition to each other. as shown in Figs. I and VII.

Although said wheel 46 may be driven by any suitable means. I have found it convenient to drive it by engagement with the gear wheel 33 which is rigidly connected with the worm gear shaft 34. journaled in said base frame 33 and in the housing 85. and provided. within he latter. with the worm gear 86. engaged by the worm 8'7. as shown in Fig. II. Said worm 37 is rigidly connected with the worm shaft 89, also jour naled in said housing 35, and provided at its outer end with the pulley 96". for connection. with a suitable motor.

It is to be understood that the driving connections above described are such that said pulley may be continuous y driven at high speed to effect turning movement of said shaft 31. which is not only 'very i much slower but intermittent in accordance with the manipulation of said hand lever 81. It is obvious that the mechanism above described, for effecting the automatic stop page of turning movement of said embossing rollers 1 and 2, in the desired predetermined position, might be very much simplified. Moreover, although I prefer to form each member of the embossing couple as a rotary roller; it is obvious that a single roller having a radially recessed region, may be opposed to a reciprocatory couple member, with its axis immovable with respect to such opposing member, and afford a gap between them for insertion and removal of the article to be embossed.

Therefore, I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein, without departing from the essential features of my invention, as defined in i the appended claims. I

I claim:-

1. The combination with two embossing rollers each having two circumferential channels in. concentric relation with its axis and in axially spaced relation on its periphery; each of said *naiinels having undercut circumferential grooves at respectively axially opposite sides thereof; one of said grooves being radially wider than the other; each of said rollers having a segmental, radially recessed, region; pockets in said segmental regions of said rollers, respectively incommunication withsaid channels, arranged to afford ingress and egress for sectoral dies fitted to slide,

circumferentially in said channels; of sectoral dies detachably fitted in the channels in said rollers; said dies having respective cameo and intaglio faces in the respective rollers, arranged to register with each other; said dies having opposite projections fitting said undercut grooves; retaining blocks, respectively fitted in said pockets, arranged to retain such dies in their respective channels; screws extending transversely to the axis of said rollers, re-

spectively detachably securing said retaining blocks; axial shafts respectively fitted in said rollers, in parallel relation with each other; dowel pins respectively connecting said shafts with said rollers and retaining blocks; means arranged to constantly maintain said shafts with their axes a predetermined distance apart; means arranged to maintain said shafts with the channels in the respective rollers in transverse registry with each other; two pairs of gears re spectively rigidly connected with said shafts and in mesh with each other; the gears on each shaft having their teeth in stepped relation with each other; means arranged to synchronously rotate both of said rollers, including a wheel normally free to turn upon the driving one of said shafts; axially movable clutch means carried by said driving shaft arranged to alternately connect and disconnect said shaft with said driving wheel; and means arranged to automatically stop the rotary movement of said shafts with said segmental portions of said rollers opposite to each other, affording a gap between. said rollers, including a cam, carried by said driving shaft, and a plunger arranged to automatically engage said cam when released; and manually operative means, including a lever, arranged to alternately de tain and-release said plunger; and can supporting means on said driving shaft, in front of the embossing roller carried by said shaft, including a disk; whereby a can may be inserted in said gap and embossed, and be relased from said rollers, while the axes of said rollers are constantly maintained in the same relation with each other.

2. The combination with two emboss ing rollers each having two circumferential channels in concentric relation with its axis and in axially spaced relation on its periphery; each of said channels having undercut circumferential grooves at respectively axially opposite sides thereof; one of said grooves being radially wider than the other; each of said rollers having a segmental, radially recessed, region; pockets in said segmental portions of said rollers, respec tively in communication with said channels, arranged to afford ingress and egress for sectoral dies fitted to slide circumferentially in said channels; of sectoral dies detachably fitted in the channels in said rollers; said dies having respective cameo and intaglio faces in the respective rollers, arranged to register with each other; said dies having opposite projections fitting said undercut grooves; retaining blocks, respectively fitted in said pockets, arranged to retain such dies in their respective channels; axial shafts respectively fitted in said rollers, in parallel relation with each other; means rigidly con necting said shafts with said rollers; means arranged to constantly maintain said shafts with their axes a predetermined distance apart; means arranged to maintain said shafts with-tho channels in the respective rollers in transverse registry with each other; gears respectively rigidly connected with said shafts and in mesh with each other; means arranged to synchronously rotate both of said rollers, including a wheel normally freeto turn upon the driving one of said shafts; clutch means carried by said driving shaft arranged to alternately connectand disconnect said shaft with said driving wheel; and means arranged to automatically stop the rotary movement of said shafts with said segmental portions of said rollers opposite to each other, affording a gap between said rollers, including a cam; and cam "supporting means on said driving shaft, in front of the embossing roller carried by said shaft; whereby a can may be inserted in said gap and embossed, and be released from said rollers, while the axes of said rollers are constantly maintained in the same relation with each other;

3. The combination with two embossing rollers each having a circumferential channel in concentricrelation with its axis; said channel having undercut circumferential grooves at respectively axially opposite sides thereof; one of said grooves being different from the other; each of said rollers having a segmental recessed region; pockets in said segmental regions of said rollers, respectively in communication with said channels, arranged to afford ingress and vegress for dies fitted to slide circumferentially in said channels; of dies detachably fitted in the channels of said rollers; said dies having respective cameo and intaglio faces in the respective rollers, arranged to register with each other; said dies having opposite projections fitting said undercut grooves; retaining blocks, respectively fitted in said pockets, arranged to retain such dies in their respective channels; axial shafts respectively fitted in said rollers; means rigidly connecting said shafts with said rollers; means arranged to constantly maintain said shafts with their axes a predetermined distance apart; means arranged tomaintain said shafts with the channels in the respective rollers in transverse registry with each other; means arranged to synchronously rotate both of said rollers; and means arranged to automatically stop the rotary movementof said shaft-s with said segmental portions of said rollers opposite to each other, affording a gap between said rollers; whereby an article may be inserted in said gap and embossed, and be released from said rollers, while the axes of said rollers are constantly maintained in the same relation with each other.

4. The combination with two embossing rollers each having a circumferential chan nel in concentric relation with its axis; each of said rollers having a radially recessed region; pockets in said regions of said rollers, respectively in communication with said channels, arranged to afford ingress and egress for dies fitted to slide circumferentially in said channels; of dies detachably fitted in the channels in said rollers; said dies having respective cameo and intaglio faces in the respective rollers, arranged to register with each other; means arranged to retain such dies in their respective channels; axial shafts respectively fitted in said rollers; means arranged to constantly maintain said shafts with their axes a predetermined distance apart; means arranged to maintain said shafts with the channels in the respective rollers in transverse registry with each other; means arranged to s ne chronously rotate both of said rollers; and means arranged to automatically stop the rotary movement of said shafts with said regions of said rollers opposite to each other, affording a gap between said rollers; whereby, an article may be inserted. in said gap and embossed, and be released from said rollers, while the axes of said rollers are constantly maintained in the. same relation with each other.

5. The combination with two embossing rollers each having a circumferential channel in concentric relation with its axis; each of said rollers having a segmental, radially recessed, region; of dies detachably fitted in said channels; said dies having respective cameo and intaglio faces in the respective rollers, arranged to register with each other; means arranged to constantly maintain said rollers with their axes a predetermined dis tance apart; means arranged to maintain said rollers with said channels in transverse registry with each other; means arranged to synchronouslyrotate both of said rollers; and means arranged to automatically stop the rotary movement of said rollers with said segmental recessed regions opposite to each other, affording a gap between said rollers; whereby, an article may be inserted between said gap and embossed, and be re leased from said rollers, while the axes of said rollers are constantly maintained in the same relation with each other.

6. The combination with two embossing rollers, one having a cameo element and the other an intaglio element, arranged to register with each other; each of said rollers having a radially recessed region; of means arranged to constantly maintain said rollers with their axes a predetermined distance apart; means arranged to synchronously rotate both of said rollers; and means arranged to automatically stop the rotary movement of said rollers with said recessed regions thereof opposite to each other, affording a gap between said rollers; whereby, an article may be inserted in said gap and embossed, and be released from said rollers, while the axes of said rollers are constantly maintained in the same relation with eac other 7. The combination with two embossing rollers, one having a cameo element and the other an intaglio element, arranged to register with each other; each of said rollers having a radially recessed region; of means arranged to constantly maintain said rollers with their axes a predetermined distance apart; means arranged to synchronously rotate both of said rollers; whereby, when said rollers are turned to present their recessed regions in opposition to each other, an article may be inserted between them and embossed, and be released from said rollers,

while the axes of said rollers are constantly maintained in the same relation with each other.

8. An embossing roller having two cir cumferential channels in concentric relation with itsaxis and in axially spaced relation on its periphery; each of said channels having undercut circumferential grooves at respectively axially opposiite sides thereof; one of said grooves being radially wider that the other; said roller having a segmental, radially recessed region; pockets in said segmental region of said roller, respectively in communication with said channels, ar ranged to afford ingress and egress for dies titted to slide circumferentially in said channels; of dies detachably fitted in the channels in said rollers; said dies having opposite projections fitting said undercut grooves; retaining blocks, respectively fitted in said pockets, arranged to retain such dies in their respective channels; and means detachably securing said retaining blocks.

9. The combination with an embossing rollerhaving a circumferential channel in concentric relation with its axis; said channel having undercut circumferential grooves at respectively axially opposite sides thereof, one of said grooves being ditferent from the other; said roller having a radially recessed region; a pocket in said recessed region, in communication with said channel, arranged to afiord ingress and egress for dies fitted to slide circumferentially in said channels; of a retaining block fitted in said pocket, arranged to retain such dies in said channel; and means detachably securing said block. v

10. The combination with two embossing rollers one having a cameo element and the other having an intaglio element; of means arranged to positively turn both of said rollers, in opposite directions, including two gears connected in coaxial relation with one roller and two gears connected in coaxial relation with the other roller; keys rigidly connecting each of said gears directly with its respective roller; all of the teeth of said gears being parallel, and corresponding teeth of the two gears connected with one roller being disposed in staggered relation, and in mesh with the gears connected with the other roller; said gears 'being so relatively circumferentially spaced on each roll er that loss of rotary motion between said rollers is prevented and the embossing elements of the respective rollers are maintained in position to register with each other.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, this 8th day of June, 1921.

ALFRED TAYLOR SNOW. Witnesses EUGENE L. TIEBNAN, J12, Morons H. FELDMAN. 

